Signal



June '10 1924. 1,497,102

F. F. KUHN 4 SIGNAL Filed March 12. 1923 Patented June 10, 1924.

STATE nnrra new;

QFFICE.

SIGNAL.

Application filed March 12, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK F. KUHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stop lights or signals for motor vehicles and the main object is to provide an eflicient, practical and simply constructed device for enabling the driver of a motor vehicle to warn vehicles in back of him as to his intention to stop or indicate that he is about to turn a corner, so that the drivers of such vehicles can govern their actions accordingly, and as a result avoid collision and prevent a rapid passage of traffic. Further and more specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim, and are clearly illustrated in the structure shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a common and well known construction of tail light, equipped with my improved stop signal.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the device, as seen substantially on the line 22 in Fig. 1, and showing the application of the operating elements.

Referring to the drawing more particularly and by reference characters, A. designates a tail light body having a lens B, an annular slot C, and a light bulb D, connected in a circuit through a wire E, all of common and well known construction.

Upon, the body A and over the slot C I secure, by suitable means F, a casing G, in which is hingedly secured, as at H, a reflector plate I. This plate I is normally held in yieldable engagement against the rear wall of the casing G by a spring J, which is secured high enough so that the lower edge of the plate Ican be pulled back against the front wall of the casing G, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. Said rear casing wall is provided with an outset channel portion K in which is secured a colored (preferably red) glass L. Said Serial No. 624,465.

channel portion is also provided with a punched out signal'character, such as the word Stop, so that when the glass L is illuminated from within then only the word Stop will be displayed from without.

The reflector I is pulled back by any suitable means, but preferably by a wire M which is strung through a conduit N and connects as at O to the braking lever P of the car on which the device is installed. At an intermediate point in the wire M it is found desirable to insert a relatively stiff coil spring R, which does not yield any, however, unless the lever P is moved farther than the movement of the reflector I will allow, in which case such spring R will allow a slight elongation of the wire to prevent it from breaking. I

It will be readily understood that when the driver of a car, on which this device is properly arranged, approaches a corner or desires to stop, he presses the brake lever P to slow up, and when he does so he will also pull back the refiector I, so that the light from the bulb D will be reflected against the plate and out through the signal characters mentioned. When driving along under normal conditions the reflector will, on the other hand, prevent any light from the bulb D from illuminating such characters.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the invention, as here shown and described, provided, however,'

that such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having now therefore fully shown and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

A signal device consisting of a casing having characters in one face thereof, a reflector within the casing normally closing against'said characters, and means for withdrawing the reflector, the lower end of said' casing being open and arched to fit over a cylindrical tail light member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK F. KUI-IN. 

